Removal of Garter

Title: Removal of Garter with Teeth

General Information about Item:

  • Customary Folklore: Tradition
  • Italian, English
  • Italy

Informant Data:  Roberta Montesano and Alessandro Barbera

  • Roberta was born in the south of Italy in Puglia, specifically in the city of Lecce. This is located in southeastern Italy in the “heel of the boot.” She has studied in Milan for two years and is an exchange student at Dartmouth College right now until the winter. She is 21 years old and studies economics. Roberta has attended 3 or 4 Italian weddings in her life.Alessandro is also from the south of Italy in Puglia, and he has also been studying in Milan for two years. He is 21 and also studies economics. He is studying at Dartmouth College until the winter, and he came here as an exchange student to try the “American College Experience.” Alessandro has attended around five Italian weddings

Contextual Data:

  • According to the two, weddings in Italy differ with each region. Being from southern Italy, they had the most information about southern Italian weddings. Many of the traditions of the weddings that they describe are universal throughout Italy and some throughout Europe, but they are aware that Northern weddings, or other regions, have many of their own traditions, although they were not fully aware of any specifics, besides that in Naples, families have very large weddings and host all of the guests for the event.

Item:

  • During the celebration after the wedding, the groom takes off the bride’s garter using only his teeth and throws it in front of all of the wedding guests.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

  • https://youtu.be/LMRJO7FQWj8 (4:50 – 5:50)

Transcript of Associated File:

  • Informant: “You have to wear typically a garter, and then the groom has to take it off.” …
  • Collector: “He takes it off in front of the whole family?” …
  • Informant: “So basically, during the celebration there is a moment in which the groom takes off the bride’s garter and he can’t use his hands, only his mouth.” “It used to be a thing, it’s not that common anymore.”

Informant’s Comments:

  • Roberta and Alessandro were unclear on why this tradition is carried out, but it is possible that this solidifies their life as a couple together, as the ripping off of the garter signifies the loss of her virginity as she becomes a wife.

Collector’s Comments:

  •  It is possible that this solidifies their life as a couple together, as the ripping off of the garter signifies the loss of her virginity as she becomes a wife. This is a customary tradition common in many weddings.

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